Brady is back with Buccaneers after hiatus

Tom Brady returned to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday, ending what has been described as an 11-day, prearranged break from training camp for personal reasons.

The seven-time Super Bowl champion didn’t address the media after practicing. Teammates and coach Todd Bowles said the 45-year-old quarterback was sharp throwing the ball and essentially took up where he left off when he left the team Aug. 11.

“If anybody can get away with the 11-day break during training camp, it’s Tom,” tight end Cameron Brate said. “He came back, kind of firing on all cylinders again.”

Las Vegas Raiders running back Kenyan Drake said he was told by the team that it plans to release him after he signed a two-year, $11-million contract with the club last year . ... The Minnesota Vikings acquired backup quarterback Nick Mullens from the Raiders for a conditional 2024 seventh-round draft pick. Mullens will compete with Kellen Mond and Sean Mannion to back up Kirk Cousins . ... Quarterback Baker Mayfield will start the Carolina Panthers’ Sept. 11 opener against his former team, the Cleveland Browns, coach Matt Rhule announced . ... New York Giants rookie edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux sprained the medial collateral ligament in his right knee in Sunday’s preseason victory over the Cincinnati Bengals and is listed as day to day. Another Giants rookie, linebacker Darrian Beavers, tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee and will not play this season . ... Kansas City Chiefs Pro Bowl defensive tackle Chris Jones and wide receiver Mecole Hardman returned to practice from back and groin injuries, respectively . ... Marcus Mariota led Atlanta to scores on two of his three drives in the Falcons’ 24-16 loss against mostly New York Jets backups in a preseason game.